By Paul Hutcheon

Copyright dailyrecord

John Swinney’s SNP have opened up a massive 17 point lead over Scottish Labour ahead of next year’s Holyrood election . Nigel Farage’s Reform UK is also within touching distance of knocking Anas Sarwar’s party into third place . The poll by Survation, on behalf of the pro-UK Scotland in Union, comes on the eve of the Labour conference in Liverpool . Prime Minister Keir Starmer continues to face criticism after a turbulent fifteen months in charge. His plummeting ratings have hit Scottish Labour, whose own polling numbers have nosedived in the same period. According to the new poll, the SNP support in constituencies stands at 37%, with Labour trailing on 20%. Reform UK, predicted to make big gains at Holyrood in May, are on 18%, ahead of the Tories on 11%. The Lib Dems are on 7% while the Greens are on 5%. On the regional list votes, the SNP lead is smaller but is still sizeable. The Nationalists are on 31%, thirteen points ahead of Labour on 18% and ahead of Reform on 16%. The Tories, Lib Dems and Greens are on 13%, 11% and 8% respectively. Other polling data provided worse news for the SNP Government on their running of public services. The proportion of people who said the Government is not performing well on the NHS is 56%. The figure for housing was worse at 65%. SNP deputy leader Keith Brown said: “This poll gives the SNP its highest constituency vote share in almost three years and puts us within touching distance of an outright majority in the Scottish Parliament. “The SNP is focussed on making Scotland a better place to live. NHS waiting times are coming down and GP numbers are up, our young people achieved outstanding exam results this year, and we’ve just scrapped peak rail fares for good – saving commuters hundreds of pounds. “There can be no doubt that Westminster treats Scotland as an afterthought and is holding us back. Independence is the fresh start that Scotland needs so we can release our nation’s full potential.” Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “It is no surprise that Scots are unhappy with the state of public services after years of neglect from this dismal SNP government. “It is damning that just 39% of respondents think our health service is performing well – but this chimes with the dreadful statistics we regularly see, including on lengthy waiting lists for A&E, operations, and heartbreaking figures on drug and alcohol deaths. “Meanwhile, just 14% of those polled said independence is one of the most important issues for them. Yet, John Swinney has insisted on putting this front and centre of his Holyrood campaign, demonstrating how out of touch he is with people across the country. “This busted-flush SNP government is out of ideas and out of time. Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour are ready to unite our country, fix the NHS, end the waste of public money, and restore our public services.” To sign up to the Daily R ecord Politics newsletter, click here